In a big round of Saturday action, winners today were Box Hill Hawks, Port Melbourne, Williamstown, Collingwood and Werribee Tigers.
The top of the ladder is starting to take shape, with the five winners today all forming part of the top six teams on the Bailey Ladders VFL ladder.
Those teams will reamin in their positions at the end of the round, with Sunday's results having no impact on their ladders spots.
Let's take a look at the Round 7 Saturday action:
Box Hill remain on top
Box Hill Hawks continued its unbeaten start to the season with an 18-point win over Richmond.
In front of a full house of 2,500 at the reduced capacity Punt Road Oval, the Hawks overcame a slow start to take control of the game in the second term and set up win number six of the season.
Trailing by 12 points at quarter time, Box Hill added seven goals to two in the second term, to take a 20-point lead into the second half.
Despite the return of Ivan Maric for the Tigers, it was Hawks tall Jon Ceglar who was the best bigman on the day, among the best for the Hawks as he combined in the ruck and up forward.
It was an even spread of goal kickers that got the Hawks over the line, with Tim O’Brien and Xav Murphy their only multiple goal kickers from 11 separate goal scorers. Ben Ross was among the ebst along with Ayden Kennedy, Luke Andrews and David Mirra.
For Richmond, Luke Conca bagged three, and Shane Edwards two, with their best Dylan Grimes, Matt Dea and Brad Helbig.
Port still unbeaten
Port Melbourne gave 200 game player Sam Pleming a milestone match to remember, as they defeated Essendon by 18 points at Windy Hill.
The dour defender was among the best for Port, who withstood a Bombers fightback in the third term, and an inaccurate final term, to take the points.
Port Melbourne got off to the best start possible, leading by 23 points before the Bombers hit the scoreboard. But at quarter time Port’s early ascendancy was not evident with two late goals to Essendon reducing their lead to just nine points.
The game followed a similar path in the second term as Adrian Bonaddio helped Port back out to a 23 point lead, only for Josh Mellington to lead a home side revival with two goals cutting the half time margin to just six points.
After Port Melbourne led in the first half, Essendon drew level then kicked in front with a Shaun Edwards goal. The goal for goal finish to the term set the game up for a thrilling finale.
The final term however was a less than spectacular finale to the tight match, with 3.13 scored for the final term between the two teams; Port unable to ice the game with an eleven behind final term.
The Borough kicked 10 straight behinds to open the final term before their first major after only three points separated the sides at three quarter time. While Kyle Hardingham drew the Bombers back within six points in the final term, two late goals saw Port record win number six.
Mitch Wooffindin and Bonaddio led the way with two goals each for Port, while their best were Luke Tynan, Shannon Lange and Chris Cain.
Hardingham and Mellington kicked two each for Essendon, with O’Brien, Sean Gregory and Cory Dell’Ollio were their best.
Seagulls into third spot
Williamstown has moved to third on the Peter Jackson VFL ladder with a strong 25-point win over Geelong.
The win is the Seagulls’ third win on the trot, setting them up nicely before their first bye of the season next week due to their FOXTEL Cup match on Tuesday night.
The loss meant back to back defeats for Geelong, with the Cats yet to record a win against a top eight side this season as they teeter on the edge of dropping outside of the top eight at the end of the round.
The Seagulls were able to judge the conditions better early in the game, jumping out to a 26 point lead before the Cats added their first score. Jake Owen, Leigh Masters and Anthony Anastasio were busy early. Geelong fought back in the second term, cutting the margin to 15 points at half time, and after three unanswered goals in the third term Mitch Brown put the visitors infront for the first time in the game.
It was however Owen that steadied the ship for Williamstown, kicking two of four unanswered goals to finish the term for the home team, and they took a 21 point lead into the final quarter.
Geelong got as close as 17 points in the final term, but the likes of Scott Clouston and Owen (5 goals each) proved too difficult to stop.
Best for Williamstown were David Fahey and Cam Lockwood in defence, plus Clouston and Owen up forward. For Geelong, Tom Maas was their best with two goals, plus Walker, Jackson Hollmer and Dom Gleeson.
Werribee closes in on top four
Werribee Tigers are within striking distance of the top four after a commanding 67-point win over Sandringham.
The win was Werribee’s first against a top eight side this year, as they inflicted the Zebras’ second loss in a row. Sandringham has two weeks now to contemplate its drop to fourth on the ladder, and likely lower before they return to the field in Round 9.
Utilising the strong breeze in the first term, Werribee got the advantage they needed kicking eight goals to one in the first term, with Jye Bolton and Mason Wood the main avenues to goal.
Sandringham were unable to gain the same advantage with the breeze, as Jesse Crichton played loose in defence and helped repel many of the Zebra attacks.
A goalless third term by Sandringham helped Werribee set up an unassailable lead of 76-point lead at three quarter time, with the likes of Jarred Moore (32 disposals), Tom Gribble (29) and Sam Wormald in his 100th game helping the Tigers into a winning position.
Despite winning the final term, Sandringham will have a lot to think about during its break, suffering loss number two after an unbeaten opening to the season.
Werribee however are on the rise, as Wood jumped to the top of the VFL goal kicking ladder kicking his third bag of four goals for the season.
Best for Werribee were Moore, Tim McGennis, Wood and Michael Sodomaco, with Kane Turner (3), Kieran Harper, Ben Brown and Ben Warren (2 each) join Wood (4) as the multiple goal kickers.
Seb Ross and Beau Maister both kicked two for the Zebras, with Ross (33 disposals), Brodie Murdoch and Kenny Ong their best.
Martin leads Magpie day out
Collingwood has recorded its biggest win of the season, with a 115-point hiding of Bendigo. The Magpies set up with the win with an eight goal to one first term – Kyle Martin instrumental in the first term with three of his match high four goals in the opening term.
Martin now sits in second spot on the VFL goal kicking ladder, such has been his effectiveness when up forward for Collingwood this year in the VFL. Patrick Karnezis and Lachlan Ferguson both chipped in with three goals as the Magpies kicked their highest score of the season.
Bendigo struggled for opportunities up forward, with Nathan Brown resolute in defence for Collingwood, as the Magpies kept the Gold goalless in the third term.
Karnezis, Ben Moloney, Martin and Jono Marsh were best for Collingwood, with Liam Byrne, Sam Heavyside and Jesse Wallin best for Bendigo.
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SUNDAY GAMES
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Last Modified on 17/05/2014 19:12